148 G. Amdrup. 



Each of the sledges thus had a Idad (if ca. 200 kg. If the weight 

 of the sledge is taken at ca. 35 kg., each man consequently had to 

 drag ca. 71 kg. 



In order to make it easier for the drag-sledge parties during the 

 first part of the way, Hendrik Olsen on the 5th and 6th of April 

 drove out to Syttenkilometernæsset with the rest of the dogs and 

 the puppies and deposited there 12 boxes of dog pemmican. about 

 ЗП0 kg. 



On the Sth of April in Ifie morning all 3 sledge parties set olT, 

 while Knud Christiansen, Jarner, Hans Jensen, Lindhard, Man- 

 niche and Weinschenck, 6 men altogether, were left to look after 

 the ship and the station and to make all the regular observations. 



The parties followed the tracks of the great expedition north- 

 ward, but though the way had been marked out for them on the ice, 

 which at places had screwed towards the coast, it took them about 

 3 days to reach Cape Marie Valdemar, a distance of about 70 kilo- 

 meters. The same distance had been covered in a little more than 

 half a day by the 10 north-going dog-sledges. But it must be remem- 

 bered, that the dog sledge plus its load had only weighed 200 kg. 

 against the 285 kg. of the drag-sledge. Nevertheless, this example 

 furnishes a good proof of the enormous superiority of the dog sledge 

 compared with the drag-sledge on expeditions in arctic regions. 



On April 11th in the morning all 3 sledge-parties, as already men- 

 tioned, arrived at Cape Marie Valdemar. The men were all very ex- 

 hausted, and it was decided to have a rest here for some days, at the 

 same time to dry all the we( skin-clothes. The laborious work of 

 drawing the sledges made them all sweat very much in spite of the 

 great cold and both ehjthes and btiots became wet. But the sun now, 

 especially in the middle of the day, exerted a strong influence and 

 heljjed to dry the clothes wlien hung up for thai [iiirpose, even if the 

 temperatur!' was far below the freezing-point. 



On April 13th m the evening the journey was continued towards 

 Cape Amélie. It became a very hard piece of work. The ice in the 

 bay was smooth but it was extremely fatiguing to walk in the deep 

 loose snow and the sledges cut deep down, so that progress was very 

 slight. In spite of the low temperature — some — 30° — they did 

 not feel the cold so long as they toiled onwards through the snow, 

 on the contrary they perspired. But when they rested for a breathing 

 space, they soon felt the piercing cold. 



On April I4th towards the morning they raised the tent almost 

 111 the middle of the bay and towards the evening they continued 

 the journey, heading for the depot on Cape Amélie. Снк. Bendix 

 Thostrup started a few hours before the others. He did not take 

 the tent with him, intending to return as soon as he had unloaded 

 some provisions at Cape Amélie, The sledging was still miiisually 



